Royals Offseason Transactions Thread

[KC Royals Nation]

OK, I'm going to designate this thread for the offseason moves of our Kansas City Royals. We all know the major names on the Free Agent market this winter - Aaron Rowand, Andruw Jones, Carlos Silva, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Torii Hunter to name but a few. Other free agents have options to either be accepted or declined. Also, a number of Royals could hit the trade markets soon. And Dayton Moore has been known to pull a savvy under-the-radar type move in his brief tenure in K.C.

If anyone has any links to stories they would like to share, don't hesitate to post below!

All the offseason gossip starts and ends here!

[KC Royals Nation]

OK, so far, David Riske has declined his 2008 option and has filed for Free Agency, hoping to seek a long-term offer.

The Royals declined Odie's 2008 club option, and the Dodgers are paying (I believe) $700,000 of the buyout. He filed for Free Agency yesterday.

Mike Sweeney, John Thomson, Reggie Sanders, and Jason LaRue have also filed on the market.

As agordon7 mentioned, the Royals have signed 10-Minor Leaguers to contracts:
royalsnation.proboards62.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1193807866

The Royals have announced their 2008 coaching staff:
royalsnation.proboards62.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1193173733

...their revised schedule:
royalsnation.proboards62.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1193333497

And (most obviously) their new manager, Trey Hillman:
royalsnation.proboards62.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1192817059

[skillset]

The Royals released Andres Blanco from the 40 man roster and today claimed Colby Lewis of waivers from the Athletics.

They now have 37 players on the 40 man roster with 5 players on the 60-day DL.

[KC Royals Nation]

Any thoughts on our new righty Colby Lewis? Being dumped from four organizations by your late twenties doesn't exactly signal great things to come, so he'll probably round out most of '08 in Omaha. However, he'll likely be given the chance to compete for the 12th bullpen slot in the spring.

Link:
www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/344799.html

[skillset]

I think he is a great addition. He has a great arm and if our coaching staff can straighten out his mechanics so he has better command, we will have a steal! These are the types of signings that can pay huge dividends if our coaching staff clicks with him.

[KC Royals Nation]

Per Bob Dutton (KC Star) and MLB Trade Rumors:

"I was waiting for someone to name a few players of interest to the Royals, and Bob Dutton came through tonight with some names.

Specifically, the team is after a run-producer, ideally a right-handed hitter. That puts Jose Guillen atop their list. Dayton Moore might need to go a little north of three years, $30MM to get him.

Failing that, the left-handed hitting Geoff Jenkins is on the radar. He'd probably go for a one-year, $6-7MM contract in my estimation.

Dutton also hints that Sammy Sosa could be a consideration for the Royals, as he does have pop if nothing else. They are one of a handful of teams with an open DH spot."

--------

Also, according to the K.C. Star, the Royals are seeking veteran pitchers:

www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/350035.html

[gilgameche]

I would not be against Sosa.while the average was not grea 21 HR's and 90+ RBI's would by far be the best hitter on this team

[skillset]

Sosa would not be the best hitter on this team. Here are his splits from last season:

.328/.410/.613 vs. LHP
.222/.267/.410 vs. RHP

So if you want to sign him to platoon with someone at DH, then give him a one year deal for 1 to 2 million. But I don't think this team needs to have 2 players on the 25-man roster to fill the DH spot.

We already have Butler, Huber, Brazell, Shealy and Gload who can fill the 1B/DH roles. We don't need to add a bat like Sosa. Now if we were willing to sign Bonds, that is a bat worth having in the lineup.

[ror1fan]

Bonds and Sosa = Juan Gone

[gilgameche]

let me clarify what I meant.I meant if you take Sosa's HR and RBI total from this past year he would have led the team in both stats.it never hurts to take a look at all options that are available

[skillset]

Be careful when comparing RBI totals with players on different teams. the RBI is a team stat, not an individual one.

Texas was 5th in the AL in Runs with 816 last year, the Royals were 13th of 14 with 706. Would Sosa still be the RBI leader for the Royals? Maybe. Would his RBI total be better than what Brown did for us? Maybe not.

Brown hit .316/.358/.530 with RISP in 366 total ABs.
Sosa hit .333/.387/.593 with RISP in 412 total ABs.
Sosa did slightly better with RISP than Brown and had more ABs and played on a offensively superior team.

[KC Royals Nation]

I think it's imperative that our Free Agent offensive acquisition(s) don't take away from the mode we're in - rebuilding. If they're good enough to "contradict" that mode (i.e. Meche), then take a look. And one-year contracts don't really contradict our mode.

I'd rather go for an "All-or-Nothing" approach, than do what Allard Baird did every other season - load our 25-man roster with 5-6 marginal/over-the-hill veterans.

[powderblue]

admin said:

I think it's imperative that our Free Agent offensive acquisition(s) don't take away from the mode we're in - rebuilding. If they're good enough to "contradict" that mode (i.e. Meche), then take a look. And one-year contracts don't really contradict our mode.

[glow=red,2,300]I'd rather go for an "All-or-Nothing" approach, than do what Allard Baird did every other season - load our 25-man roster with 5-6 marginal/over-the-hill veterans.[/glow]

QFT

[FanOfJoseAgain!]

Roman Colon, Ryan Shealy, Angel Sanchez, Luke Hudson added to the roster from the 60-day DL.

Danny Christensen sent to the Tigers as PBTNL for Colon.

Joe Nelson DFA'd.

[timbok]

Roman Colon is a good player.
Good move right there,use to play with the Braves